Charging for annual service plus parts.

[armyash]

Hi,

when doing a boiler service (or any appliance). Say you charge £80 for example, to strip down, clean and test accordingly. What about other bits such as burner seals/gaskets that should be changed once removed etc. Do you add these on or do customers expect these included in the service price?

Might seem like a stupid question but I could imagine charging for a service and the customer not expecting to pay for anything on top that was needed. Depending on the price of any bits could find you're making next to nothing for the job.

 

[villa_tom]

Just charge for a service. You don't have to change seals and gaskets on every service. If you go to a service and find it needs a full strip down and seal and gaskets changes then just advise that it needs doing.

If they don't want you to do the extra work then just AR/ID the boiler and leave.

Its just the same as an MOT or service or your van, you wouldn't expect the mechanic to fit parts on your van that have failed on the MOT for free in with he price of the MOT.

 

[Masood]

I ask how long since it's been serviced. If more than a year I tell them that seals might be needed, chargeable extra. If they are not needed once I've stripped down, then I let them know, and don't charge.

 

[armyash]

Excellent. Thanks for the replies, pretty much what I expected.

 

[Leo21]

I tell customers no parts included in the service, I also ask iff there's any faults they want me to look at. They normally tell you, I then tell them if a service will cure it or not.

 

[Ermintrude]

I love service repairs........ Well it just needs a service ..... Can you come today? It's not been service d for ten years but it's imperative that it's serviced today!

 

[Masood]

I love service repairs........ Well it just needs a service ..... Can you come today? It's not been service d for ten years but it's imperative that it's serviced today!

And the "It needs a service because it loses all its pressure every couple of days"...

 

[villa_tom]

And the "It needs a service because it loses all its pressure every couple of days"...

its amazing what people expect.

I turned up to a one off service for BG yesterday and when I got there asked if there was anything wrong, they said no.

I ran ran the hot tap and it went hot then cold then hot then cold, then I ran the heating and the pressure went all the way up to 3+ bar.

I then found a leak under the boiler on the return union, looked like it had been leaking for ages.

I went into into the living room to tell the customer what I'd found and that really it needed a repair, and she said "well you're here to service it, it will all be done on the service"

i said no and she didn't like it much, after talking to her, she admitted she knew off all the faults and was going to call BG after I left and blame me.

I cant belive what some people expect :-(

 

[Irish]

So how did you leave it tom? I woulda flat out refused to touch it after that !!

 

[Ermintrude]

Yeh I mean a service from BG being more than fga and a quick Hoover!